Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for the hot air roasting of coffee beans is provided and includes structure for inhibiting contaminants from entering the hot air stream used in the roasting of coffee beans, structure for obtaining a uniform roast of the coffee beans, unitary structure for mounting a handle to a roasting chamber and removably and releasably mounting a cover to the roasting chamber, structure for initiating a roasting cycle and terminating the roasting cycle for a predetermined cooling period at any point during the roasting cycle, structure for double sealing a cover to a roasting chamber, structure for assembling a vessel, a metallic base, and a plastic mount ring into an integral roasting chamber, structure for releasably and removably mounting a roasting vessel to a main housing, dual filters for preventing the blockage of a hot air stream through a hull and chaff collector, and a “fan based” method for controlling the roasting temperature.

Abstract: A coupling device for coupling a conventional dryer flexible exhaust tube to the wall mounted exhaust port. The coupling device includes first and second coupling components each having corresponding first and second base plates with first and second exhaust apertures extending through the first and second base plates. The dryer flexible exhaust tube is attached on one of its end to a dryer outlet port and at its other end to an attachment flue extending from the first base plate in fluid communication with the first exhaust aperture. A second flue extends from the second base plate in fluid communication with the second exhaust aperture. The second flue is used for mounting the second coupling component to a wall exhaust aperture extending through a partition wall adjacent the dryer.

Abstract: A process for the drying of woven glass fabric to be used in a reinforcing laminate in sensitive electronic equipment is disclosed. The process adopts a drying technique of utilizing dielectric or radio frequency heating which results in a cleaner product.

Abstract: An air passage switching system includes a case forming an air passage having an opening portion, and a butterfly door for opening and closing the opening. The door includes a door body portion made of a material having a high rigidity, and a seal member attached to the door body. The seal member is made of an elastic material, and is formed into a thin-plate shape to extend from an outer peripheral portion of the door body portion toward an outer side. The seal member of the door is press-fitted to a case seal surface around the opening portion along a seal line (D), so that the opening portion is closed. The door is set in such a manner that an inner peripheral curvature radius (RC2) of a corner portion of the case seal surface on the seal line is larger than an outer peripheral curvature radius (RD) of the seal member on the corner portion. Thus, the air passage switching system prevents air leak due to a deformation of the seal member while being produced in low cost.

Abstract: A wind outlet plate of an air conditioner for cleaning air comprises a wind outlet panel, an upper cover, a wind guiding plate, a filter, a negative ion generator, an ultraviolet lamp. The wind outlet panel has a wind outlet. The upper cover is installed above the wind outlet panel and has respective wind inlet and wind outlet. The wind guiding plate is installed below the wind outlet panel for guiding air flow. The filter is installed on the wind guiding plate for filtering dust, and at least one rotary groove is installed at the lateral side thereof, by rotation, the rotary groove is buckled to the rotary hook at the wind inlet of the upper cover for engagement or detachment. A negative ion generator is installed at the bottom of the upper cover near the wind inlet; and an ultraviolet (UV) lamp is installed at the bottom of the upper cover near the wind inlet.

Abstract: The present invention is an active microchannel fluid processing unit and method of making, both relying on having (a) at least one inner thin sheet; (b) at least one outer thin sheet; (c) defining at least one first sub-assembly for performing at least one first unit operation by stacking a first of the at least one inner thin sheet in alternating contact with a first of the at least one outer thin sheet into a first stack and placing an end block on the at least one inner thin sheet, the at least one first sub-assembly having at least a first inlet and a first outlet; and (d) defining at least one second sub-assembly for performing at least one second unit operation either as a second flow path within the first stack or by stacking a second of the at least one inner thin sheet in alternating contact with second of the at least one outer thin sheet as a second stack, the at least one second sub-assembly having at least a second inlet and a second outlet.

Abstract: A paint drying system for drying painted motor cars, particularly those cars painted with water-born paints. The system includes a spray booth (2) which is supplied with heated air which flows in a downdraft from an upper inlet (32) to a lower outlet (44) and also from wall-mounted air jets. The air from the air jets disrupts the downdraft causing air turbulence within the spraybooth (2) which accelerates drying of the painted cars. In a preferred embodiment, the spraybooth has corner mounted air jets.

Abstract: An electric hand and towel dryer includes an enclosure having an inlet and first, second, and third outlets for heated air. A tube associated with the second and third outlets connects to opposed air outlets in the enclosure. A blower unit incorporates a heating element, a motor, and a fan located inside a first chamber of the enclosure for generating a hot air stream. The stream selectively exits the enclosure through the first outlet or the second and third outlets. A folding blind controls the flow of the hot air through the first or second and third outlets for respectively drying hands or a towel supported on the hanger.

Abstract: A portable purge system for transporting materials, such as semiconductor wafers used in the manufacture of ICs, comprises a carrier having compartments for releasably receiving and enclosing the materials therein. The carrier is flooded with an inert gas such as nitrogen so as to adsorb the nitrogen on the surface of the materials, dilute contaminants, and purge the contaminants from the carrier. The carrier and the flooding means are mounted in a transport case. A humidifier is connected to the flooding means so that the materials will adsorb water and thereby further resist adsorption of hydrocarbon contaminants.

Abstract: Dryer section of a machine for at least one of producing and processing a web of material. The dryer section includes at least one heatable drying cylinder having a circumference, at least a part the circumference adapted to be surrounded by the material web, at least one support band arranged to surround the at least a part of the circumference, and a sealing band arranged to surround the at least a part of the circumference. An overpressure cap is arranged to receive one of a liquid and gaseous medium and is adapted to apply a pressurized one of the liquid and gaseous medium on the at least one drying cylinder. A temperature of the medium is lower than a temperature on an outside of the part of the circumference. At least one second support band is arranged around the at least one drying cylinder and is positioned between the at least one support band and the sealing band, wherein the at least one second support band has a coarser structure than the at least one support band.

Abstract: An apparatus that directs the flow of heated air that is being discharged from a clothing dryer, in which the dryer is positioned upon a rigid support, that elevates the dryer above the normal ground surface. The dryer discharge hose is connected at one end to the dryer, and to a valve assembly, located beneath the dryer, housed in the dryer support. The valve may be actuated so that heated air is either directed to flow through the valve assembly, into another hose which vents directly outside, or through an interior discharge opening, so that heated air is reintroduced back into the dwelling. The apparatus is provided with an access door, so that the valve can be positioned as desired. If air is being reintroduced back into the dwelling, a removable air filtration system is provided. In the event that the air filtration system becomes overwhelmed with particulate matter, the valve has a safety flap which is actuated by increased air pressure, and allows the heated air to vent outside.

Abstract: A inclined rotary drum mixer has flights for forming a veiling pattern of particles across the width of the drum for a substantial axial extent. The drum has a burner for flowing hot gases of combustion in heat transfer contact with the particle or aggregate veil. A diverter or interceptor is disposed in the drum for interrupting the cascading or veiling pattern to define a channel for flow of hot combustion gases free of heat transfer contact with the particles of the veiling pattern. By controlling the magnitude of the channel formed by the interceptor or diverter, the average exhaust gas temperature of the exhaust gases may be controlled.

Abstract: A process chamber 25 for processing a semiconductor substrate, comprises a support for supporting a substrate 50. A gas distributor 90 provided for introducing process gas into the chamber 25, comprises a gas nozzle for injecting process gas at an inclined angle relative to a plane of the substrate 50, into the chamber 25. Optionally, a gas flow controller 100 controls and pulses the flow of process gas through one or more gas nozzles 140. An exhaust is used to exhaust the process gas from the chamber 25.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for the conditioning of a commodity (12) such as clothing suitable for vacuum packing in which there is provided a conditioning tunnel (2) including a floor (4), a ceiling (6) and two side walls (8), through which tunnel runs a conveyor system (10) for transporting the commodity. The tunnel is provided with air inlets (14) for directing streams of air into tunnel, and means for extracting and transporting air from the tunnel to apparatus for dehumidifying the air. There is further provided means for conveying the dehumidified air to the air inlets. Means are provided on at least one side wall for influencing the flow path of the air passing from the inlet to the outlet. Use of the apparatus conditions the commodity so that when vacuum packed, the commodity does not crease.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating or cooling a solid material (93) in a process vessel (80) is disclosed. The Method includes supplying a working fluid to a vessel which holds a packed bed (93) of the solid material. The method is characterised by reversing the flow of the working fluid to enhance heat transfer between a heat exchange fluid and the solid material.

Abstract: A shrinkage prevention agent for water washing of clothing that would conventionally have been dry cleaned. The shrinkage prevention agent is compromised of a steam or vacuum dry-distilled liquid of two or more plants selected from sagebrush, beefsteak plant, tea, plantaginales, aloe, chrysanthemum, pine, cedar, cypress. The shrinkage prevention agent is used in a wet cleaning system that includes water washing.

Abstract: A continuous process for the dewatering of a wide variety of solid-liquid matrices, including primary and secondary sludge, involves the simultaneous application of pressure and heat to the solid-liquid matrices.

Abstract: This Document is a Continuation in Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/093,029 filed on Jun. 8, 1998, said invention comprising an apparatus for evaporating water in a mixture of water and solids derived from the organic output of a waste water treatment plant. A low cost source of gaseous heat (as the exhaust from a gas turbine driver in combination with/or alternatively from a stand alone combustor) is used for evaporating said water and safe conditioning said evaporated water vapor after being combined with a portion of the exhaust from said gaseous heat source. The solids portion of said organic output from said waste water treatment plant is segregated and safe conditioned separately. This continuation in part filing supplements said basic reference patent filing by defining a specific heat exchange surface configuration for heat exchanger 17 which minimizes radiation heat losses to atmosphere.

Abstract: A roaster and method for roasting utilizing a tangential flow reducing structure which directs and guides airflow from a blower device into a roasting vessel with minimal swirl and circular flow. The tangential flow reducing structure is preferably one or more baffles, and is preferably located within a plenum in the base of the roaster. More preferably, the roaster has a number of substantially vertical baffles channeling airflow into a vertical and reduced-swirl flow entering the roasting vessel. The roaster also preferably has a unique connection between the roasting vessel and a base upon which the roasting vessel rests, with a flat washer-shaped gasket maintaining a fluid tight seal between the roasting vessel and the base. To tighten the seal, the roaster also preferably includes a cover which is pivotably attached to a support structure supporting the cover in position over the roasting vessel when the roasting vessel is on top of the base.

Abstract: A device for drying substrate disks by irradiation with ultraviolet light, wherein during the irradiation process a glass plate is resting on the substrate disk, has a lower part on which the substrate disk rests during drying and a liftable and lowerable upper part for lowering a glass plate onto the substrate disk resting on the lower part. The upper part has a glass plate holding device that is lowered below the substrate disk upon lowering of the upper part for placement of the glass plate onto the substrate disk.